Valve for hermetically-closable jars.



PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

, G. STAUNTON.

.VALVE FOR HERMETIUALLZ GLOSABLE JARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1906.

UNITED STATES GRAY STAUNTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

, VALVE FOR HERMIE'IICALLY-CLOSABLE JARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Original application filed September 22 1905I Serial No. 279.630. Divided and this application filed April 2, 1906. Serial No. 309.303.

tion, easy of application, efiicient and reli able in operation and cheap of manufacture. To these and other ends itshould become apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention consists in the features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and specified in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated an operative embodiment of my invention,

and parts of the completed structure; Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a jar, having applied thereto a closure embodying my invention. Fig, 2 is a cross sectional detail of a portion ofthe closure structure showmg the valve. Fig.3 is a side elevation of the valve detached, and, Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof, in inverted position.

Throughout the figures like numerals of reference refer always to like parts.

In the drawing 10 indicates a vessel of any suitable size and configuration, the vessel shown having an open mouth 10 as is common in preserving glasses and the like to be purchased on the market.

11 indicates in general the body of the closure which is preferably made of glass of suitable thickness, with which is suitably associated a sealing ring 16 adapted and arranged for coaction with the open mouth of the receptacle body 10 to-forrn a hermetic joint between the body and closure. So far as the present invention is concerned the seal ring-may be of any desired character, but

v that which I have herein shown by Way of illustration is specifically described and claimed in my co-pending application, filed September 22nd, 1905, bearing Serial No. 279,630, whereof this application is a divi- S1011.

At some suitable point in the package formed by the associated vessel and closure, preferably centrally of the closure member thereof, is located a vent opening 13, prefer shank 19 integrally connected with the said Y head; and flexible spurs 20 projecting from the stem at the bottom thereof. Preferably the valve is of a height over all not in excess of the thickness of the closure 11, so

that the valve may sit wholly within the re- 'cesses 14 and 15 and the vent aperture 13 of the closure. The shank of the valve should be somewhat greater in length than valve; and said stem is of less diameter than 1 the vent openin 13.. The boss 18 u on the head is preferab y about the size of t e vent opening.

The valve described, in use, is inserted in place in the closure by compressing or distorting the flexible spurs 20 and forcing them and the valve stem through the vent opening 13, so that the umbrella-shaped head of the valve lies Wholly within the recess 15 and the spurs protrude from the shank Within the confines of the recess 14 formed therefor in the bottom of the closure. The spurs 20 may readily be so constructed that they resist removal of the valve with suflicient force to prevent its disengagement from the closure during any normal operation of handling the closures, but permit of v ically seal the vessel, the closure is. applied to the open end thereof and the air exhausted from the interior of the vessel. This may be done either by heating the vessel, thereby causing its contents to expand and a portion of the air'to force its way through the vent opening, and subsequently permitting the vessel to cool, in order that the air may contract therein and produce a vacuum tendency which efiects the seating of the valve, or by mechanical exhaustion of the air or by proper combination of both processes. In the event of any exhaustion of the air the resultant tendency to a vacuum eflects the seating of the valve and closure u on their respective seating surfaces. In .t e drawingls I have shown at 21 a fragment of an ex aust pump and it will be understood that by such means air may be drawn from the vent opening 13, the valve rising with each suction stroke of the plunger, thereby decreasing the ressure Within the vessel, so that the over alancing exterior air pressure forces the closure 11 tightly upon the vessel 10, compressing to some extent the sealing ring 16, and at each down stroke of the pump plungerthe valve 17 seating upon its .flat

surface 15 with considerable force. It will be apparent now that when the valve 17 is thus forcibly seated, the central portion of its umbrella head, crowdingunder pressure against the edges of the vent aperture 13 as shown in Fig. 2, causes the flattening of the normally cup-shaped umbrella, and the consequent expansion, to a slight extent, of the .thin peripheral edge of the head. This flattening of the cup-shaped head causes its edge portion to press tightly against the seating surface 15 therebelow, and to force an effective and air tight joint by which slight pensated for.

irregularities in the seating surface are com- Furthermore the boss 18 tends to wedge the rubber tightly in the opening 13, to make a tight fit with the edges 0 the vent.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of and manner'of combination of the parts of my invention, which I deem to be novel and ad vantageous, it will be apparent that slight changes might be made in the construction and arrangement without departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. It will further be apparent that whileI have shown glass as a material of which the vessel and closure body are made they might be made of any hard, impervious material, and that the invention herein disclosed is adapted to a vessel or closure of any size or shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a vessel, a closure therefor, said closure having a vent opening therein, and a valve arranged for coaction with said vent opening comprising a stem extending through the vent opening, and a convexo concave head overlying the area elastic material, adapted andarranged when in closing position to overlie said vent.

3. In combination with a package to be hermetically sealed, having a vent opening vexo concave head of generally circular shape arranged to overlie the portion of the closure surrounding the vent opening, said valve head being of resilient material.

6. A closure for vessels comprising a body having a vent opening therein, and a rubber valve for said vent opening of convexo concave shape, tapering toward its outer edge and generally circular in plan, and means for retaining said valve in position upon the 010- sure'body.

7. In a closure for vessels, a body having opposing recesses therein connected by a vent opening and a valve of flexible, elastic material substantially contained within the recesses, comprising a head of umbrella shape convexo concave in cross section and tapering'toward its outer edge, arranged in one recess,- a stem extending through the vent opening, and flexible retaining means extending into the opposite recess.

8. In a closure for vessels, a body portion having a vent opening therein, a rubber valve for said vent opening comprising an umbrella head, a shank extending into the vent opening, and a boss alining with said shank in the opposite side of the head.

9. In combination with a package to be hermetically sealed, having a vent opening therein, a rubber valve having a concave under surface arranged to cover the vent opening.

10. In combination, a package to be hermetically sealed, having a vent opening in a suitable part thereof, and a rubber valve therefor comprising a convexo concave head overlying the vent, a stem extending through said vent, and a retaining means on the end of the stem. a

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

GRAY STAUNTON.

In the presence of GEO. T. MAY, Jr., MARY F. ALLEN. v 

